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Virginia Quiroz, DNP, ONP-C with Colorado Springs Health Partners, PC, is only the second nurse practitioner in Colorado to be Certified as an Orthopaedic Nurse Practitioner. Virginia practices with Steven Waskow, MD at the CSHP specialty services center.A rigorous certification exam is required to credential a practitioner as expert in the specialty of orthopaedic nursing. Ms. Quiroz, after over a decade of practice in family medicine and urgent care, has specialized in orthopaedics and pursued the certification. To date, a mere 78 nurse practitioners have achieved certification in orthopaedic nursing.The Orthopaedic Nursing Certification Board’s (ONCB®) certification exams recognize a commitment to lifelong learning and a high level of knowledge that contributes to effective patient care and safety. Having a specialty nursing certification is almost a requirement in the 21st century. The ONC examination is accredited by the The Accreditation Board for Specialty Nursing Certification (ABSNC). Nurse practitioners are key providers in healthcare and the trend is growing. They are registered nurses with advanced academic and clinical experience to diagnose and manage acute injuries, common and chronic illnesses either independently or as part of a health care team. Working in collaboration with physicians, they provide high quality, cost effective and individualized care throughout a patient’s lifetime. Nurse practitioners earn a master’s or doctoral degree, and/or certification, in addition to their general registered nurse training and are licensed through the state where they practice. Colorado Springs Health Partners, PC is the largest, physician-owned, multi-specialty practice in the state. Established in 1946, CSHP is proud to continue offering quality health care to residents of the Pikes Peak Community through its 100+ physicians and 10 practice locations. In addition to primary care, they offer full service Diagnostics, Ambulatory Surgery Services, Urgent Care, Hospitalist Medicine, Health Management, a Sleep Center and over 20 medical specialties. More information can be found at www.cshp.net.